Which Dining Plan ?

[MommaSue]

We are booked to stay at POFQ from Dec 6 to 12 with free dining. DH and I really wanted to do the QS plan as we didn't want to have to worry about making reservations. However, it seems that we aren't allowed to switch to that plan unless we want to pay full price for it ($467). Or, we can upgrade to the Deluxe plan for $504.

Does anyone have any opinions on what our best option would be?

I should add that we are travelling with DD8 and DS6.

TIA

 

[sharonabe]

I think, first, I would try calling again. I can't imagine they wouldn't let you do the QSDP--it costs them less too. Try again, but if you get the same answer, I would say go with the regular DPP (an option you didn't suggest). I assume you don't have a discount on your room. If you do, you cannot add another discount like free dining. You have to choose. As for upgrading to the DxDP, don't forget to add in the amount needed for tips and the time it will take up to do all those TS.

 

[ehrn]

To me, that's a long trip w/only QS in the mix. Making reservations is a bit of a pain, but necessary during any free dining promo. You might really enjoy the break of being able to sit for a while and be waited on. Plus, you could do character meals w/the kids.
It took me a long time to accept the idea of having to know so far ahead of time what I wanted to eat, but I've gotten used to it. I use touringplans.com to plan which parks to visit on which day and plan my meals based on that. We have mostly dinners, one breakfast, one lunch for sit-downs on our October trip. You really should take advantage of the regular DDP if you are going to pay rack rate at a Moderate.
I love that time of year, too!! Have a great trip!

 

[laceemouse]

I agree with the pp. You are gonna get sick of burgers and fries. QS is a little better than it used to be, but it is still junk stuff. Go ahead and schedule one nice meal a day and get some veggies on those plates! Plus, you could do some character meals.

 

[chabs]

Even if they don't let you switch to QS, it might be cheaper to leave your dining plan the way that it is and just pay out of pocket for the extra CS meals rather than upgrading to the deluxe plan. Also, you might have luck with one of the CMs at your resort being able to change your TS over to CS when you check in.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

In the past, free dining promotions have filled restaurants to capacity. Disney has offered to exchange your TS meal credit for a CS meal and two snacks during that period in the past. It isn't guaranteed, but it has happened. If you leave the dining as it is, you can hope for that option (but make reservations for TS meals just in case). You could do a few TS and use the rest as CS credits and get more snacks. You wouldn't get the mug this way, but you can still buy one.

 

[5forDiz]

Don't know if I'm reading your post correctly but you have free DDP ?

If so that's 1 TS, 1 CS & 1 snack per day.....you can use TS iirc in place of CS if you want but I wouldn't; jmho TS is great opportunity to take your kids to character dining options and maybe even to try some Signature Dining restaurants (we've gone to Signatures with our kids & there are plenty of families who do) - you will need to use 2 TS credits per person for Signature but if you don't want to do TS each day this is a good way to pool your TS credits and Spirit of Aloha or Hood De Doo (2 TS credits per person) are fun ways to use up those TS credits too. It's up to you what works best for your family but I wouldn't give this up for QS plan.

 

[rt2dz]

I believe you can use TS credits for CS. Last year, they allowed you to trade the TS credit for a CS and a snack because they didn't have enough ADRs to go around. In other years, if you used your TS for a CS they'd have other bonus items to give you (once it was pins, another time backpacks). If you really want the dining plan, I'd just keep what you have. Then, if you do want to do a few TS meals, you can without spending more money.

Another option is to book a room-only reservation with the current discount code. I believe it is 35% off. You can then purchase your tickets from a discount ticket broker for less money (use the link for Undercover Tourist in the MouseSavers newsletter) and pay for your dining out of pocket. OR you can have them apply the discount to the room and still make it a package by adding tickets and the QS plan. A lot of people have found either of these two options to save them more money than the free dining plan.

Remember, free dining only saves you what you would spend on out of pocket dining costs minus the extra you pay for rack rate room and full price tickets. Evaluate Dining Plans carefully, even when free.

 

[MommaSue]

We have the free DDP on our reservation right now. I wasn't sure if I compared the $500 (approx) price tag of changing plans and what we would spend OOP for the rest of our food which one would be the better deal.


When I called Disney again this afternoon, the cast member told me that I couldn't 'downgrade' to QS because the moderates include DDP......the only thing I could do would be to cancel my reservation and re book it paying full price for the QS plan. He did say that on DDP I could exchange one TS credit for one CS meal if I wanted to (but basically told me that I was crazy to even consider it). Or , I could upgrade to DxDP which would give us more flexibility.

I'm starting to think I should just leave it as it is. I'm not sure we would spend another $500 for food over what we would get on the dining plan.

 

[auralia]

have you considered seeing if a room discount would be better for you? Free dining means paying rack rate... if you get the room discount and pay for the QS dining plan how does that come out? My military rate CBR room for 8 days pirate style in october with military dining for 2 adults and 1 15 year old with QSD came to just around 1900 without park tickets.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

We stay at value resorts, just need a bed to sleep in but let me see if this will help you....
We had booked our vaca for free dinning with the regular, sit down service plan. I REALLY wanted just QS but they wouldn't let us downgrade. Later we got another offer for free QS dinning at the value resorts. I called and they said not a problem to down grade, but you can use the TS for a QS and snack... we were told on the original booking phone call you can't do this. They also didn't understand why I'd want to do it and tried to talk me out of it. Basically I wanted to say I do think the QS plan is the best, no ADR's to make, not planning my day around eating and not eating for hours. There's more than burgers to eat, I love Cosmic Rays with the ribs and chicken, yummy!! The hotels have all kinds of things, at least the value resorts do. And we get more than enough food with just the QS meals. I'm looking forward to new QS meal locals this trip and being able to enjoy my trip without running around to fit in our TS meals!

So if it's going to cost more to switch to the QS (I'd try to call AGAIN, maybe a few times, we get different answers to the same questions all the time! You'd think Disney would be better organized) I'd keep the TS plan, you could still make a few ADR's if you want, and switch the rest out for QS meals, and BTW Planet Hollywood takes the dining plan, we've never needed ressies and it's the best TS meal we've had at Disney!

We'll be there same time as you, hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[MommaSue]

So if it's going to cost more to switch to the QS (I'd try to call AGAIN, maybe a few times, we get different answers to the same questions all the time! You'd think Disney would be better organized) I'd keep the TS plan, you could still make a few ADR's if you want, and switch the rest out for QS meals, and BTW Planet Hollywood takes the dining plan, we've never needed ressies and it's the best TS meal we've had at Disney!

We'll be there same time as you, hope you enjoy your trip!

This is exactly what DH and I were thinking after reading everyone's thoughts. We'll keep the plan we have and make a few ADR's for the places we really want to go.

Thanks for the Planet Hollywood tip! We were wondering if there were any TS restaurants that we might be able to get into without reservations.

How cool that we will be there at the same time!! I love Disney when it's dressed up for Christmas. You have a great trip too!